Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-03-29
A NIGHT in THE RIVER.

luTilIkhS Experiences Oh u farSy OF
Travellers who Tried to Cross the Mis-.
souri, at Bisniarck.
st. Paul Pioneer Press, 9th: Mr.. f.
Thayer, living at No. 277 Fifteenth
street, had an unpleasant experience on
night last. the remembrance
Of which will follow HIM throughout life,
Mr.. Thayer is q Pullman conductor on
the Northern Pacific railroad, and was
returning from Portland, Ore. When
Mandan was reached the flood was at it's |
the Missouri river was full of
floating ice, and it seemed almost I'M
possible for o boat to live in the angry |
A steamer from Bismarck had
made a trip early in the day, landing up
stream q distance of four miles from
Mandan. Following is Mr.. Thaye,'s
story:
"There was perhaps sixty passengers
my train, and we were told that the
boat from Bismarck was waiting to
transfer us across the river. Farm
wagons and all sort of vehicles We're
used to transport our party to the land
ing, about four miles distant, and over
the toughest country / aver saw. When
we reached the landing we found the
steamer had gone and would not return
that afternoon but the boatman said
that he would send a yawl manned by
FIVE of his best men with such of us as
were willing to make the trip down to
Bismarck. My orders we're imperative
to get across the river if possible, and 1
was willing to make the venture. -Four
others consented to join the expedition,
which, looking back at it now, l can see
was a %foolhardy thing to do.
I'VE left the landing Abont 5 O'Clock;
the water was comparatively smooth,
and there was but little ice running. 1t
looked as though we would make the
trip to Bismarck before dark, as the
current was running so swiftly that it
was only necessary to steer the boat and
keep her headed down stream. Sudden.
ly and without warning q squall struck
us; the boat was almost upset, SO violent
was the shock. and we shipped q sea that
completely filled the bottom Of frail
bark and gave us all o ducking. The
wind seemed to havn started the Ice, and
we were continually being caught in
eddies that would make it unmanage-
able, even with four strong men at the
oars. Once we collided with an ice foe
with such force that it seemed as if we
should go to the bottom; a miracle must
have been performed to WI US. By
this time We we're we'll over toward the
eastern shore of the river, and partly by
chance and pastly by our own efforts We
got out of the current and floating ice
into q more quiet part of the stream.
eve gradually worked the boat into
the tree tops that were q few feet above
water, and secured anchorage, and then
discussed the situation. By this time it
was quite dark. We had the choice of
remaining where we were all night OF
%venturing out into the main channel
and take the chances OF reaching our
destination. We naturally chose the
former course, although we dreaded the
long night in nj uncomfortable posi-
tion. The wind had increased in violence
and soon after dark 1t commenced to
rain, then hail, and finally o Gold ?
You can have no idea how we suffered.
0nr clothing was wet through. and
finally froze stiff. One of the party had
got his feet wet, and changed his stock
ings, but his shoes froze, and he was sc
benumbed that he could not gel
them on again. He then took
the sleeves out and wrapped his
| hCCu AL GhG 6LCC tYSSIs w AL W0 1bnSiy
reached q landing he had to walk nearly
half q mile over the frozen ground with.
out other protection for his feet. W.
stood up in the boat, stamped, swung
our arms to keep our bloodin circula-
ton, and resorted to every form of ex,
ercise that our cramped position would
permit. One OF the party finally gave
up and declared he didn't oare.if he die
freeze to death, sank down in the boat
1 reused him by o smart slap in tn,
face. That angered him and he got III
and wanted to fight. The same thing
occurred several times during tina
awful night, and I am satisfied that ",
should all have persisted but for suol
measures. The roaring of the river ant
the crashing of ice was simply awful
At times we could not make ourselves
heard, and to add to our discomfor
we could hear quite Q us tht
screams Of two mountain lions. probabl,
in some tree top imprisoned by the flood
First one would scream, then the Othe
answered with an equally bloodhound
ing screech. At last the long, wear,
hours wore away, and q faint CLEAN o
light appeared in the eastern sky, anG
as il grew lighter the wind gradual.
went down aud the muddy w dImin
ished in size. There Was less ice in thu
river, too, and with benumbed hands W,
u~nfastened mooriDgH and driftet
with the food down the river. W,
reached Bismarck about 8 o'clock ant
had q good meal, and I slept all day
taking the night train for st. Paul reach
ing here on Friday. Strange to SO,
none of us seem to have suffered an,
lasting effect from the exposure. Th
physician at Bismarck said the excite
ment and nerve tension prevented on
taking cold.
"Thers was one man in the part.
whose name I do not know, but he is al
architect from Helena Mont; who con
tributed more to keeping us alive thai
all the rest of us combined. He didn'
grumhie all night long, but told stories
whistled, tried to sing and cheered n
all the best he could. But for him
know that I should have given mp 3
the awful nnmbness that I knew mean
death by freeziHg if l .desisted in m,
~efforts to keep my blood in circulation
7 wouldn't go through another night TO
q fortune, and it. ever J. want to oonsig,
a man to an awful fato, it shall be jus
suoh q night as that ! experienced las
, Wednesday"
From Hon. II. f. Manierre.
No. &c West Gath st. New York, Eel
10, 1851 hnd ALLcooR's PLAsTERs {
inestimable value, and do not like to b
: without them in nay house. 1 have nse
&hapo with voarbod hapGt in yhaupnat;en